With the development of radiotherapy technology, the area of ​​radiotherapy for prostate cancer is expanding. Recently, even if metastases to other organs are present in the advanced stages of prostate cancer, active treatment by radiotherapy is attempted when the number of metastatic tumors that have spread to other organs is less than 5 and the number of “minor metastatic tumors ” ‘ with only distant local metastatic lesions.

Professor Lee Seong-wook of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Proton Therapy Center of the National Cancer Center said on the YouTube channel ‘National Cancer Center’: “Recently, even if there are metastases, if the number of metastases is small, the area of ​​metastases is treated aggressively with techniques such as radiosurgery, and the same is true for prostate cancer. “It is reported that the treatment is beneficial for patients, so we are applying it diligently,” he stressed.

Professor Lee said: “Research has shown that, in the case of minor metastatic cancer, even if it is metastatic cancer, treating the prostate cancer with radiation and treating the metastatic area with radiosurgery shows the best therapeutic results ”.

With the development of radiotherapy technology, the area of ​​radiotherapy for prostate cancer is expanding. Recently, although there are metastases to other organs in the advanced stage of prostate cancer, the number of metastatic tumors that have spread to other organs is less than 5, and in the case of a small number of metastatic tumors with only local metastasis to distance, lesions, active treatment with radiotherapy is being attempted. Photo source = Getty Images

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer has two main purposes. Professor Lee said: ‘For patients diagnosed with prostate cancer for the first time, there is curative radiotherapy which has the same effect as surgery.’ And he added: “For patients who have undergone subsequent surgery, if residual tumor remains or signs of recurrence are observed after surgery: “There is radiotherapy for salvage purposes,” he explained.

Currently, early and mid-stage prostate cancer can be completely cured with radiation therapy alone. Professor Seongwook Lee explained: “In the case of early and intermediate-stage prostate cancer, it can be cured with radiotherapy or proton therapy alone even without surgery, and a cure rate almost equivalent to surgery can be expected.”

Recently, even in the area of ​​”high-risk prostate cancer” treatment, where radiotherapy has been used for salvage purposes, there are also research reports showing that radiotherapy performed in the early stage is more effective.

‘High-risk prostate cancer’ such as prostate cancer infiltrating the outside of the prostate capsule, prostate cancer infiltrating the outside of the prostate capsule on one or both sides, prostate cancer infiltrating the seminal vesicles and prostate cancer that invades surrounding tissues other than the seminal vesicles such as the bladder, levator pelvis, and pelvic wall. In the case of , the recurrence rate is high even after surgery, and in case of recurrence, radiation therapy is usually administered to the area.

Professor Lee Seong-wook said: “There is a radiotherapy expert opinion that the combination of radiotherapy and hormone therapy from the beginning would be more effective for these patients because they have no choice but to undergo both surgery and radiation-related side effects.” “He also highlighted the possibility of early radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer can also be used for other purposes. Professor Lee explained: “There may be bone metastases or lesions that cause pain later, and it is known that applying radiotherapy to such lesions can be of great help.”

Additionally, radiation therapy has become an alternative to surgery for prostate cancer patients who are weak enough to undergo surgery or for prostate cancer patients who have difficulty undergoing general anesthesia. Professor Seongwook Lee said: “Radiation therapy is a treatment that can be received even if the body is a little weaker than surgery,” and added: “Almost all patients can receive radiation and proton therapy.”

When undergoing radiotherapy, there are some points to follow to increase the effect of the treatment. When you decide to have radiation treatment right away, one of those things is completing all your scheduled treatments.

Professor Lee said: “There is a fixed dose to kill cancer through radiotherapy. If that dose is irradiated on a patient in one day, the side effects on the body are too severe, so we researched a safe dose and l ‘we divided it into 25 doses. or 30 doses. “However, if you do not complete the treatment and stop halfway, the radiation may not reach the tumor-killing dose, so the effect of the treatment may be significantly reduced.”

Another thing is that, during radiotherapy, if there are no cancer cells in the target to be treated and the cancer has moved elsewhere, only side effects will occur and the effectiveness of cancer treatment will be reduced, so you need to pay attention to this aspect.

Professor Lee Seong-wook said, “The accuracy part is prepared through the baseline maintained for the patient in the treatment room or images from the treatment room. However, if the patient loses too much weight during the treatment or is unable to maintain the prescribed posture, the tumor may not achieve the intended goal and advised: “If the patient makes a little effort, it can help further improve the accuracy of the treatment.”

2024-01-09 15:11:41
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